Pump-suction pen



Nov. 2 1926. 1,605,282

` M. V. RINGGOLD PUMP sUcTIoN PEN Filed Oct. 4, 1924 HTrOe/vff f Patented Nav. 2, 19265.

maaar MAYBURFJN V. RINGGOLD, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

IPUMP-SUCTION PEN.

Application filed October 4, 1924. Serial No. 741,589.

to pump ink, or the like, after a fountain barrel is filled to a desired level therewith.

Numerous pens, currently referred to as self-filling are provided with suction means comprising an internal rubber bag, the resiliency of which may at .first be suliicie'nt for its intended use, but which is liable to be defective and is subject, like all soft rubber goods of similar character, to early deterioration; and such pen organizations as in* clude features of reciprocating pump structure have commonly been deplorably frail and also likely to pump ink clear through the pump barrel and over the fingers of a user. They have, moreover, been liable to leak ink through one or both ends thereof.

The objects of my present invention ao- Cordingly include the provision of a novel pump, suitable for use in a pen, or the like, and adapted to act upon air, but comprising means automatically rendering the same ineffective whenever a suflicient charge of ink, or the like, has been pumped thereby.

In a preferred embodiment'of my invention, this result may be obtained by means comprising a double-ended valve controllable by a float: and, in one advantageous construction, t-he mentioned double-ended valve may be provided with means permitting one or both of its valve surfaces to be locked at will against the corresponding seat or seats in such manner as effectively to prevent leakage. i

It is a further object of this invention to provide a pen comprising a lower or standing valve, a seat for which may be integral with a pen barrel, and a plunger movable relatively thereto and provided with an additional valve, one or both of said valves being preferably provided with guiding means, and said plunger being-preferably provided vwith means for securing one of said valves, at will, against a seat or seats.

The said plunger may be adapted to reciprocate directly within a pump barrel, but it is preferably provided with a separate cylinder, which may be formed from a non-corrosive metal and may be provided with means for its removable or permanent retention within the body of a fountain pen, or the like, and also with means for the retention of the operating parts of my pump in their intended relationships, adapting the same to be inserted or removed as an entirety.

Other objects of my invention will appear from the following description of alternative embodiments thereof, taken in connection with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the upper end of a pen barrel, or the like, equipped with my invention, parts being broken away to a substantially median plane, and no cap being shown. See line 1-1 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, but showing a double-ended standing valve as lockedl between opposing seats, and showing a cap in place.

Fig. 3 isa transverse section taken substantially as indicated by the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4L is an enlarged sectional view taken ubstantially as indicated by the line H of Fig. 5 is a supplemental elevational view taken in the direction of the arrow 5 of Fig. 4i.

Figs. 6, 7 and-8 are respectively detail views separately showing locking plates of the character employed in the construction illustrated in Figs. L and 5.

Fig. 9 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1, but showing an alternative form.

Referring to the details of that specific embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, 11 may be the barrel of a fountain pen, or the like, provided near the upper end thereof with a transverse partition 12, apertured at 13 in ysuch manner as kto provide a tapered seat 14 for a co-operating valve 15, adapted to serve as the standing valve of a pump organization.

In order to guide and retain the valve 15, or its equivalent, I may employ means such as an externally threaded plug 16; and in order to permit the use of this plug as an element in a locking means, for the holding of the valve 15 againstvthe seat 14,

I may optionally employ means such as a filler 17 provided with a guide passagelS for a guide pin 19, which may be integral with the valve 15, the construction here referred to being preferably such as to permit a free movement of air inwardly and upwardly, as through lateral ducts 2O and vertical chiots 21, except when the plug 1G is moved downward into engagement with the valve 15, pressing the conical face 22 thereof against the seat 14. To afford double assurance against leakage of ink, or the like, past the plug 1G, or its equivalent, I may optionally provide therein a valve seat 23, adapted to eo-operate with a second conical face 24 upon the valve 15, constituting the same a double-ended valve; and I may optionally provide additional guidance for the centering of this valve, as by carrying a projection or pin 25 downward therefrom through the opening 13. The plug 16 may be removably retained by means such as external threads 26, engaging corresponding threads in a pump cylinder, and interior threads 27 may be provided in said plug for engagement by corresponding threads 28 upon the exterior of the filler 17, or its equivalent. During the operation of any suitable pump within the upper pump section 29 of the barrel 11, the valve 15, or its equivalent, may be permitted to move freely from the seat 14; and, at the completion of a filling of apen, or the like, the depression of the plug- 16, as by its rotation relatively to the barrel 11, may be effective to lock the said valve, or its equivalent, between the seats 14 and 23, affording double assurance against leakage.

In conjunction with a standing valve organization of the general character described, or independently thereof, I may employ a plunger organization comprising a head 30 movable by a handle 31, the said head being shown as internally threaded to receive a correspondingly threaded valve seat 32, serving to confine a valve 33; and this valve may optionally be provided with centering means such as a pin extending into a cavity 35 in the handle 31,- this cavity being either continuous with or separate from a channel 3G, adapted to permit a free circulation of air, which may find exitthrough a pore or duct 37, shown as extending entirely through the handle 31.

For purposes hereinafter referred to,the handle 31 may advantageously be non-circular in cross sectional outline, as best shown in Fig. 4; and, in order to allow air freely to enter above the upper transverse surface 38 of the head 30, I may cut away or round `one or more of the corners of the handle 31, substantially as shown at 38a, in Fig. 4, the construction here referred to being effective to permit a prompt egress of air trapped above the valve 33, and to assure a free reciprocation of the head 30, within any suitable cylinder.

As shown in Fig. 9, the head 30 of a plunger of the character deserilied may be reciprocated directly within an upper section 29 of a pump barrel, the cross sectional outline of the handle 31 being Vthen comparatively immaterial, and the ring er collar 39 being optionally employed merely as a filling unit or top closure, the head 30 being in this case preferably provided with a plurality of projections 40, adapted to be interfit-ted within notches 41 in a threaded plug 16, otherwise similar to the described plug 16, for the purpose of imparting rotation thereto, to lock the double-ended valve 15 between co-operating seats; but I prefer to interpose between the head of my plunger and the barrel of a pen, or the like, a wear resisting and perfectly fitting nietallic cylinder, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive.

In the construction last referred to, tne cylinder 42 is shown as provided at its lower end with a threaded section upwardly ter- Ininated by a shoulder 43, the mentioned threaded section being preferably so formed as to provide external threads, engaging corresponding threads 44 provided in the interior of the pump section 29 of a pen barrel, or the like, the inner threads 2G having been already referred to as engaged by corresponding external threads upon the plug 1G. The plug 1G, or its equivalent, may then be initially and securely seated by insertion through the lower end of the cyline drical element 42 in such manner as to render the rotation of the cylinder 42 effective to elevate or depress the plug' 16; and the mentioned rotation of the cylinder 42 may be effected, by means of the squared handle 31, through the agency of any preferred intermediate means. For example, -I have shown the upper end of the cylinder 42 as provided with a pair of oppositely extending slots 45 and 46, adapted respectively to receive projections 47, 47 upon an upper locking plate 48, and projections 49,` 49 upon a lower locking plate 50, these plates being respectively provided with differently oriented squared openings adapted snugly to receive, but to permit the reeiprocation of, the squared handle 31. To permit the insertion of the mentioned lugs into the mentioned slots, in a manner suggestive of a bayonet connection but affording a more secure locking relationship, I may provide opening 51 extending vertically to the top of the cylinder 42; and, when the upper edge of the slots 45 is at a high elevation, I may optionally provide laterally extending lugs, or projections 52, 52 extendingr over the slots 45 and disposed at one side Bil lll)

of the vertical slots 51, to assure the retention of the plate 48 by means of projections 47, 47. In order to facilitate the assembly of the parts last referred to in their indicated relationships, the squared handled 31 may advantageously be cut away as shown at 53a, 53h, 53 and 53d (see Figs. 1 and 4), in such manner that when the plunger is lifted to its uppermost position, the notches so formed may permit the dropping` of the projections 49, 49 of the lower locking plate through the slots 51 and assure their retention in the slots 46 durin?,` the subsequent disposal cf the projections 47, 47, upon the upper plate 48,

within the slots 45,-the squared handle 31 being depressed during the movement last referred to, just sufficiently to avoid any disturbance of the lower plate 50 while Y the upper plate is inserted, and the relationships between the squared openings in the respective plates being such as to assure their retention` int-erlocked in the manner described, during,- subsequent reciprocation of the handle 31, as in the filling of a pen.

Assembly may obviously be effected by a reversal of the sequence of the movements last described; and in order to prevent the entrance of ink, or the like, above the valve 15, orts equivalent, it is an important object of my invention to provide for the automatic seating of the upper conical face 24 thereof against the movable seat 23, whenever a sufficient quantity of ink, or the like,

i shall have been pumped, as by the reciprocation of the handle 31 (or the handle 81 of the form illustrated in Fig'. 9). For the purpose last referred to, I may employ simple means such as a ball of cork 54, or a similar float, adapted to be elevated, in cidentally to a. rise of ink, or the like, in the barrel 11, into contact with,"for example, the mentioned guide pin 25, upon the lower end of the valve 15.

By the construction described, I provide comparatively simple and very reliable and durable means for the convenient and rapid filling` of a fountain pen, or the like; and it is an especial merit of the described construction that, although it is effective to pump air. thereby producing' the necessary suction for a filling operation, the pump thereof is automatically rendered ineffective for the raising of ink above apredetermined level or into contact with the operating parts; and it is perhaps no less important that the handle 31 may serve, not only by its reciprocation for the filling of a pen, but also, by its rotation, for the locle ing of the double-ended valve 15, or its equivalent, in such manner as very reliably to obviate leakage. A cap may be screwed over the handle 31, or its equivalent, as by engagement of internal threads 56 with external threads 57 provided at the Lipper end of the filling section 29, when a filling operation has been completed and the plug 16 and handle 31 are depressed into the positions shown in Fig. 2. v

Although I have herein described alternative complete embodiments of my invention, I am aware that various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without the sliohtest departure from the spirit and scope of my invention as the same is indicated above and in the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a fountain pen, the combination of: a barrel provided with an apertured transverse partition comprising a valve seat; a valve adapted to engage said seat; a plunger above said valve; and means rendering the rotation of said plunger effective to lock said valve against said seat.

2. In -a filling organization for a fountain barrel which is provided with .a transverse partition above the intended level of liquid and having an opening therein, the combination of: a valve movable by a float and co-operating with said opening as a fixed seat; and means comprising a pump cylinder externally threaded and manually movable relatively to said barrel for holding` said valve against said seat.

8. In a filling organization for a fountain barrel which is provided vwith a transverse partition having an opening therein, the combination of: a valve co-operating with said opening as a fixed seat; and a second valve seat manually movable relatively to said valve, to loclc the same; and means for moving said seat at will into a valve-locking position.

4. In a filling organization for a fountain barrel which is provided with a transverse partition having an opening therein, the combination of: a valve co-operating with said opening` as a fixed seat; said valve being double-ended; and a second valve seat movable relatively to said valve; and means for causing, at will, said valve to be held in valve-closing engagement with both of said seats.

5. In afountain barrel filling device, a plunger organization comprising: a head maintained entirely above the level to which liquid is, drawn and from which a handle projects; an air valve seat removably secured in said head; a valve retained by said seat; and means whereby air, trapped above said valve, may escape through said handle.

6. In a fountain barrel filling device, a plunger organization comprising: a head maintained entirely above the level to which liquid is drawn and from which a handle projects; an air valve seat removably secured in said head; a valve retained by said seat, said valve being' provided with guiding means extending, into said handle.

7. A fountain barrel filling device coniprising: a standing valve organization; a plunger organization; and means whereby the rotation of said plunger organization may lock said standing valve in a valveclosing position.

8. A fountain barrel filling device comprising: a standing valve organization; a plunger organization; and means whereby the rotation of said plunger organization may locl said standing valve in a valveclosing position, said means comprising a metallic cylinder in Which the plunger may reciprocate.

9. A fountain barrel filling device comprising: a standing valve organization; a plunger organization; and means Whereby the rotation of said plunger organization may loclr said standing valve in a valveclosing position, said means comprising a cylinder provided with means rendering it rotatable by said plunger.

10. A fountain barrel filling device comprising: a standing valve organization; a plunger organization; and means Whereby the rotation of said plunger organization may locl; said standing valve in a valve closing position, said means comprising a cylinder carrying, near its loiver end, a plug element adapted to engage said standing valve.

11. A fountain barrel filling device comprising: a standing valve organization; a plunger organization; and means whereby the rotation of said plunger organization may lock said standing valve in a valve closing position, said plunger having a noncircular stein separably connectible with a plunger cylinder by means comprising` a pair of plates, said plates being each provided ivith a non-circular openingand with projections engageable in oppositely offset slots in said cylinder.

12. In a fountain barrel filling device, a standing valve organization comprising: a

double-ended valve, one of Whose ends is adapted to engage a fixed seat; and a valveretaining plug provided ,with a second seat engageable by the other end of said valve.

13. ln a fountain barrel filling device, a standing valve organization comprising: a double-ended valve, one of whose ends is adapted to engage a fixed seat; and a valveretaining plug provided with a second seat engageable by the other end of said valve, said plug being provided with means for guiding and centering said valve.

14. A fountain barrel filling organization comprising: a double-ended valve in the fountain barrel; a pump Whose cylinder is adjustably secured above said valve; and means Within said barrel and comprising a float distinct from the valve for automatically closing said valve Whenever a liquid pumped into said barrel rises above a predetermined level therein.

15. In combination: a fountain barrel enclosing a double-ended valve; a. pump Whose cylinder is adjustably secured above said valve and within said barrel; said pump including a plunger, in said barrel, adapted to pump air and thereby to cause a liquid to rise in said barrel; and automatic means, comprising a float distinct from said valve for rendering the excessive reciprocation of lsaid plunger ineffective to pump more air and consequently an excess of said liquid.

1G. In combination: a fountain barrel en closing` a double-ended valve; a pump Whose cylinder is adjustably secured above said valve and Within said barrel; a plunger, in said barrel, adapted to pump air and thereby to cause a liquid to rise in said barrel; and means, comprising a float distinct from said valve for preventing said liquid from reaching the level of said plunger.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 25th day of September, 1924.

MAYBURN V. RINGGOLD. 

